Eden Hazard (Part 1)

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15 Mar 2024

Eden Hazard (Part 1)

Eden Hazard, born on January 7, 1991, is a former Belgian professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation. He primarily played as a winger or attacking midfielder for clubs such as Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, as well as for the Belgium national team.Hazard began his senior career with Lille in 2007 at the age of 16 and quickly became a key player for the team under manager Rudi Garcia. He won multiple awards in Ligue 1, including the Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards, showcasing his talent and potential.

Hazard made a move to English club Chelsea, where he achieved considerable success. He won numerous titles with Chelsea, including the Premier League, Europa League, and FA Cup, while also earning individual accolades such as the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year.His performances at Chelsea established him as one of the best players in the world, leading to his transfer to Real Madrid in 2019 for a significant fee. However, his time at Real Madrid was marred by injuries and fitness issues, limiting his impact on the pitch.

Internationally, Hazard represented Belgium and earned over 126 caps. He played a crucial role in Belgium's success at major tournaments, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup where he captained the team to a third-place finish and received the Silver Ball as the tournament's second-best player.Hazard departed Real Madrid and subsequently retired from professional football four months later, marking the end of an illustrious career that saw him leave a lasting impact on the sport.

Eden Michael Walter Hazard was born on January 7, 1991, in La Louvière, Belgium, and grew up in Braine-le-Comte. Both of his parents, Carine and Thierry, were footballers, with his father playing as a defensive midfielder for La Louvière in the Belgian Second Division, while his mother played as a striker in the Belgian Women's First Division. They later became sports teachers after retiring from their football careers.

Hazard is the eldest of four children, with three younger brothers: Thorgan, Kylian, and Ethan. All of them pursued football careers, with Thorgan joining Eden at Chelsea in 2012. The Hazard family lived close to a football training ground, allowing the brothers easy access to practice and develop their skills.During his childhood, Hazard idolized French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, spending hours watching him on television and online. This early inspiration likely played a significant role in shaping Hazard's own playing style and aspirations in football.

Eden Hazard joined Lille in 2005 and spent two years honing his skills in the club's local sports school, as their youth academy in Luchin was not operational at that time. On May 28, 2007, at the age of 16, he signed his first professional contract with Lille, agreeing to a three-year deal.In the 2007–08 season, Hazard was promoted to Lille's reserve team in the Championnat de France Amateur, the fourth tier of French football, while still playing with the under-18 team in its league and the Coupe Gambardella. He made his amateur debut on September 1, 2007, as a substitute in a league match against Racing Club de France. A week later, he made his first start for the team.

Due to several players being on international duty, Hazard was called up to the senior team by manager Claude Puel for a friendly against Belgian club Club Brugge on November 16, 2007. He made a substitute appearance in that match and impressed, earning a spot in the squad for a league match against Nancy on November 24, where he made his professional debut as a substitute.After returning to the reserve team for a brief period, Hazard rejoined the first team in January and made substitute appearances in several league matches. Despite his talent, he was occasionally demoted back to amateur level to gain more experience. Hazard concluded his amateur career with 11 appearances and one goal, helping the reserve team to a fifth-place finish.

In the 2008–09 season, Eden Hazard was permanently promoted to Lille's first team by new manager Rudi Garcia. He made regular substitute appearances early on, scoring his first career goal against Auxerre on September 20, 2008, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the club's history. Soon after, he made his first senior start in a Coupe de la Ligue match against Montpellier.Hazard's impressive performances led to him starting his first league game against Saint-Étienne on November 15, 2008, where he scored the opening goal in a 3–0 victory. Following these displays, Lille offered him a three-year contract extension, which he accepted in November 2008.

In the subsequent months, Hazard continued to shine, scoring important goals against Sochaux and Lyon in the Coupe de France. He finished the season with Lille qualifying for the UEFA Europa League and was named the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, becoming the first non-French player to receive the award.Amidst constant transfer speculation, Hazard began the 2009–10 season brightly, scoring in Lille's Europa League qualifiers against FK Sevojno and Genk. Notably, he showcased his dribbling skills in a memorable goal against Genoa in October 2009.

Throughout the season, Hazard's contributions remained significant, including crucial goals and assists in league matches against Le Mans, Lens, and Liverpool in the Europa League. His performances earned him the UNFP Player of the Month award for March.
Hazard capped off the season by winning the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year, becoming the first player to achieve this feat. Despite missing out on the Player of the Year award, Hazard's impact on Lille's success was undeniable, solidifying his status as one of the brightest talents in European football.